Background and Objectives: Grandparents often step in to raise grandchildren when the middle generation is unavailable or unwilling. Although the consequences of raising grandchildren are well researched, little is known about the factors influencing grandparents’ decisions to raise grandchildren. The objectives of this study were to (a) explore the factors that influence decision-making processes among grandparent caregivers, and (b) investigate the extent to which these factors reflect a multifaceted, dualistic framework. Research Design and Methods: Data were collected from 108 custodial grandparents who answered an open-ended question about their decision to raise grandchildren. Results: Content analyses of participants’ answers yielded 15 factorial dimensions defined in terms of their negative/push or positive/pull poles, as it related to their decision to raise grandchildren. Chi-squared tests were used to examine each dimension to the extent to which elicited frequencies were differentially represented for positive versus negative poles. For 12 dimensions, the negative decisional parameters outweighed those that were positive. Discussion and Implications: Grandparents report both positive and negative parameters when reflecting on their decision to raise grandchildren. These results call for further research to advance the understanding of the decision-making processes that caregiving grandparents make and the role that they may have on their experiences.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background and Objectives: Grandparents often step in to raise grandchildren when the middle generation is unavailable or unwilling. Although the consequences of raising grandchildren are well researched, little is known about the factors influencing grandparents’ decisions to raise grandchildren. The objectives of this study were to (a) explore the factors that influence decision-making processes among grandparent caregivers, and (b) investigate the extent to which these factors reflect a multifaceted, dualistic framework. Research Design and Methods: Data were collected from 108 custodial grandparents who answered an open-ended question about their decision to raise grandchildren. Results: Content analyses of participants’ answers yielded 15 factorial dimensions defined in terms of their negative/push or positive/pull poles, as it related to their decision to raise grandchildren. Chi-squared tests were used to examine each dimension to the extent to which elicited frequencies were differentially represented for positive versus negative poles. For 12 dimensions, the negative decisional parameters outweighed those that were positive. Discussion and Implications: Grandparents report both positive and negative parameters when reflecting on their decision to raise grandchildren. These results call for further research to advance the understanding of the decision-making processes that caregiving grandparents make and the role that they may have on their experiences.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Family Social Work, 16(5), 2013, pp.382-391.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
It is well known that grandparent caregivers often experience increased stress and strain as a result of raising grandchildren. Although specific interventions utilising support groups, mental health counselling, educational programming, and respite care can be useful in supporting grandparents, collaborative efforts toward building partnerships among the community, service providers, and grandparents have even greater potential to assist grandparent caregivers in meeting their needs. Using the ecological perspective as a guiding framework, this article briefly reviews six contemporary programs while highlighting strategies to support grandparents raising grandchildren. These programs provide unique and innovative ways professionals can reach grandparents raising grandchildren.
(Edited publisher abstract)
It is well known that grandparent caregivers often experience increased stress and strain as a result of raising grandchildren. Although specific interventions utilising support groups, mental health counselling, educational programming, and respite care can be useful in supporting grandparents, collaborative efforts toward building partnerships among the community, service providers, and grandparents have even greater potential to assist grandparent caregivers in meeting their needs. Using the ecological perspective as a guiding framework, this article briefly reviews six contemporary programs while highlighting strategies to support grandparents raising grandchildren. These programs provide unique and innovative ways professionals can reach grandparents raising grandchildren.
(Edited publisher abstract)
BUNDY-FAZIOLI Kimberly, FRUHAUF Christine A., MILLER Jacque L.
Journal article citation:
Journal of Family Social Work, 16(5), 2013, pp.447-462.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Grandparents often become the primary caregivers for their grandchild(ren) with little or no prior notice. This familial change and added responsibility raises a number of concerns related to the overall emotional well-being for grandparent caregivers. Qualitative research using focus groups and face-to-face interviews with 15 grandparent caregivers in the United States was conducted to better
(Edited publisher abstract)
Grandparents often become the primary caregivers for their grandchild(ren) with little or no prior notice. This familial change and added responsibility raises a number of concerns related to the overall emotional well-being for grandparent caregivers. Qualitative research using focus groups and face-to-face interviews with 15 grandparent caregivers in the United States was conducted to better understand their perceptions of well-being in the context of raising grandchildren. Major themes identified included setting limits with adult children, responding to grandchildren's trauma, and grandparent resilience. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
kinship care, grandparents, wellbeing, mental health, resilience, parenting, user views;
HAYSLIP Bert, FRUHAUF Christine A., DOLBIN-MACNAB Megan L.
Journal article citation:
Gerontologist, 59(3), 2019, pp.e152-e163.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: This paper updates the literature over the last decade in addressing several new content areas that have emerged in the grandfamilies literature, along with issues that are still important to understanding grandparents raising their grandchildren today. Research Design and Methods: The social science and gerontological literature since 2004 was accessed, reviewed,
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background and Objectives: This paper updates the literature over the last decade in addressing several new content areas that have emerged in the grandfamilies literature, along with issues that are still important to understanding grandparents raising their grandchildren today. Research Design and Methods: The social science and gerontological literature since 2004 was accessed, reviewed, organized topically, and integrated, based upon an exhaustive PsychINFO literature search. Results: This review indicates an ongoing and/or growing emphasis on (a) the strengths of grandparent raising grandchildren, (b) diversity among grandfamilies along a number of parameters, (c) the social-interpersonal, cultural, and policy-related contexts of grandfamilies, (d) process-focused research, (e) parenting, parenting skills, and family relationships, (f) grandparent psychological distress, (g) targets for and the efficacy of interventions with grandfamilies, and (h) methodological issues relevant to the study of grandfamilies. Implications: This study discusses the implications of the findings in terms of more completely understanding grandfamilies along a number of parameters, as well as presenting specific recommendations for future research and practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
literature reviews, grandparents, resilience, intervention, family relations, research, families, diversity, interpersonal relationships;